The Camdenton Lakers 13U team left their mark on the Show Me State Games this year, finishing second overall in their bracket.

The Laker boys took to the field on Friday night at 6 p.m. to take on the North County Cowboys, a team of selected players from the St. Louis area, but were defeated by their opponents in an 18-13 loss. North County scored first to take a 6-0 lead, but an 35-yard interception returned for a touchdown from Connor Graves tied the game, before Isaiah Lumley found Jake Hill with a pass for the extra point. Afterwards, North County scored two more times, leading the Lakers 18-7. After a big passing play from Lumley to Jackson Ezard, Jay Aufdenkamp found the endzone with a 1-yard run to bring it to 18-13, but the Lakers could not take the win.

The team quickly bounced back, facing the Jefferson City Stell Braves the next morning, from which the Lakers emerged the winners with a final score of 40-13. Lumley drew first blood with a one yard QB sneak, followed up with a reception by Jake Hill for the extra point. Jesse Walker's 55-yard catch-and-run gave the Lakers a 13-0 lead. Jefferson City answered with a kickoff return, but Mason Tibben answered for Camdenton, scoring on a 40 yard run, with Walker tacking on the extra point with a reception. Jefferson City would score once more, trailing 20-13, but Camdenton then drove the nail home, scoring on the opening kick of the second half as Jackson Ezard returned the kick 78 yards for a touchdown. Todd Simpson would rush for 60 yards for a touchdown for their next score, before Connor Graves would run in a 20 yard TD for the final score of the game. Isaiah Lumley finished the game 7 for 11 with 130 yards and a TD, while Todd Simpson led the Lakers with 130 yards and a TD.

Luck, it seems, was in their favor, as their next opponent forfeited the game, launching the boys into the championship re-match against the North County Cowboys.

North County, however, would take home the gold, winning 18-6 to secure the championship. The Lakers only touchdown of the game came on a 35 yard reception from Jackson Ezard to Jake Hill.

Despite what turned out to be a tough and vicious game, the Laker boys displayed good sportsmanship and great athletic skill, along with a cool head, giving them the right to hold their heads high and walk away knowing that they had won a moral victory... and silver medals.